Newbie seeks help with biology degree!

[Jonathan Whatley]

Something else you might consider as a way to multiskill would be a program, or even individual courses from a program, in Veterinary Technology.

Distance learning programs in veterinary technology accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).

All programs.

Penn Foster College, on the distance learning list, as a whole college holds national accreditation, not the more common regional accreditation. This limits transferability of their credits. Some Penn Foster courses have ACE CREDIT recommendations which increases their transferability especially to the Big Three, but I don't think any of their courses in veterinary technology do. I think all the other schools on that distance learning list are regionally accredited, and their credits should transfer as widely as any.

[ryoder]

There is a ton of overlap with bio and psych if you consider gen eds and free electives.
All bio majors have to have bio I&II right, well take that ASAP and consider it your nat sci requirement for psychology. I bet in a 120 credit degree you could have 90 credits that overlap between bio and psychology. Just an educated guess but if you have 0-10 credits right now there is no reason why you should postpone completing the gen eds and free electives. Try to make them count.

[Jonathan Whatley]

There is a ton of overlap with bio and psych if you consider gen eds

True, as much as there is between any two majors at a school with common gen ed requirements.

and free electives. […] Just an educated guess but if you have 0-10 credits right now there is no reason why you should postpone completing the gen eds and free electives. Try to make them count.

Well, there's one thing. For a double major BA in Biology and Psychology at TESC, you give up all or almost all of your free elective and unrestricted gen ed elective "space."

General Education
6 sh English Composition (Same requirement for each major.)
12 sh Humanities, including at least two subject areas. (Same requirement for each major.)
12 sh Social Sciences, including at least two subject areas. (Same requirement for each major.)
27 sh Natural Science and Mathematics requirements outside Biology. (Required courses are specified for the Biology major. This would also meet and exceed the NS & M requirement for Psychology.)

Majors
30 sh Area of Study: Biology (I've spun out the Liberal Arts Capstone below. I imagine one LA capstone could cover both.)
30 sh Area of Study: Psychology ("")
3 sh Liberal Arts Capstone
____
120 sh total. Unless TESC accepts a few credits toward both the Biology and Psychology majors at the same time, there's no space left for any free electives to helpfully go.

[Jonathan Whatley]

All bio majors have to have bio I&II right, well take that ASAP and consider it your nat sci requirement for psychology.

The only problem there is that Biology has its own special requirements for nat scis outside biology that are larger than the standard gen ed nat sci requirements for Psychology. So your gen ed nat sci requirements will be the larger of the two: the outsized 27 sh section D in TESC's credit distribution chart for Biology, here.

[OE800_85]

Well keep in mind psychology is a social science, while
Biology is a science. Very different disciplines in my view. The PADI credits aren't really worth pursuing, since its just one credit hour per level completed, and that can cost as much as 1000 per level. However if you love diving, may as well. It's probably necessary to dive occasionally if you wanna be a marine biologist. I just want to stress (as others mentioned before) these kinds of programs are very academic and very competitive. I think the people running these programs will be less open minded than say, business schools. I really recommend before you start, to speak directly with several graduate program advisors and see if they would hypothetically accept your degree for entry into their program. That's the only way to be sure. I don't want you to go on this journey and get stopped abruptly like that.

[Jonathan Whatley]

The PADI credits aren't really worth pursuing, since its just one credit hour per level completed, and that can cost as much as 1000 per level.

Divemaster is 2. Instructor 3 and upper level credit. Trimix 2 and upper level credit.

However if you love diving, may as well. It's probably necessary to dive occasionally if you wanna be a marine biologist.

Or a marine animal trainer for an aquarium, as in the OP. I hope exceptions would be possible if a disability or other condition prevented diving.

[cookderosa]

I think you're going to spend double the money and double the effort (maybe half the time) earning a bio-based degree from any of the big 3, with "potential" for issues later. I think that undergrad science, when the goal is grad level science is a very very sticky path to navigate. Yes, you can chase around the country to fill the requirements, and you're going to end up with 7 transcripts and spend thousands in tuition for which you can't get financial aid for. It must just be me, but I think this is the squirreliest plan ever.

Start at the END GOAL and then figure out HOW to meet that goal. You're starting with a college and trying to make it meet a list of courses that meet narrow criteria- then asking it to fill a list of hypothetical grad school scenarios. You need to step back and plan this better before you send anyone any money.

Let's talk about Marine Biology. First off, I don't know ANYTHING about marine biology personally, but I do know that one of my culinary students came to me as a marine biology drop out. The biochemistry kicked his butt. We're not talking expo science, this is *real science that you'll need to learn (not accumulate) for your very competitive job. In addition, I know marine studies require proximity to an ocean! So, if I were starting this plan for one of my own children, I'd look at this differently.

Miami Dade college offers associate and bachelor's degrees. The beauty of their program (besides it being NEAR THE OCEAN) is that they accept 45 CLEP credits toward an associate degree (60). The remaining 15 can likely be taken online, which they offer. So, let's say you completed your AA by CLEPping your gen eds + and enrolled at Miami Dade for an AA. Upon completion of the AA, you use their articulation (guaranteed transfer) into one of the FL biology degree programs. Which one? Who knows, but you would be DOING real marine biology taught by marine biologists who hope you share their passion. You'd then be superbly positioned to apply to grad school with experience, letters, prereqs, and proper skills. You will have hopped over the bullpoo by testing out of gen eds, you'd earn the right undergrad degree for the field, and you'd be headed to grad school. You'd have biochem tutors so you didn't drop out, you'd join marine biology clubs, and you'd get to start doing that this fall. Seriously, that AA can be earned between now (CLEP from home) and 1 summer semester at Miami Dade (from home online). So come Aug, you're Welcome to Miami and hitting the books. It would take you from today- two years. At that point you can attend grad school (online maybe? Maybe not- you choose) and be one your way to a successful career.

Of course, just my two cents.

[Jonathan Whatley]

From the Association of Zoos & Aquariums: Careers in AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums.
From the Woods Hole Sea Grant Program: Sea Grant Marine Careers.

[hudspithk]

Miami Dade college offers associate and bachelor's degrees. The beauty of their program (besides it being NEAR THE OCEAN) is that they accept 45 CLEP credits toward an associate degree (60). The remaining 15 can likely be taken online, which they offer. So, let's say you completed your AA by CLEPping your gen eds + and enrolled at Miami Dade for an AA. Upon completion of the AA, you use their articulation (guaranteed transfer) into one of the FL biology degree programs. Which one? Who knows, but you would be DOING real marine biology taught by marine biologists who hope you share their passion. You'd then be superbly positioned to apply to grad school with experience, letters, prereqs, and proper skills. You will have hopped over the bullpoo by testing out of gen eds, you'd earn the right undergrad degree for the field, and you'd be headed to grad school. You'd have biochem tutors so you didn't drop out, you'd join marine biology clubs, and you'd get to start doing that this fall. Seriously, that AA can be earned between now (CLEP from home) and 1 summer semester at Miami Dade (from home online). So come Aug, you're Welcome to Miami and hitting the books. It would take you from today- two years. At that point you can attend grad school (online maybe? Maybe not- you choose) and be one your way to a successful career.

AMAZING! I think this is definitely the route best for my sitution. Thank you so much. I'm probably would have not come to that conclusion on my own. Are there any other schools like Miami Dade (that accept 45 or more CLEP credits) to consider that offer a route like this with marine biology/zoology/animal science or behavior or anything along those lines that you know of? I'm close to the ocean as well; I live in Gulf Shores, AL. I really like the idea of skipping over almost 2 years of my schooling and still being in a good enough standing for a competitive grad school program.

[cookderosa]

AMAZING! I think this is definitely the route best for my sitution. Thank you so much. I'm probably would have not come to that conclusion on my own. Are there any other schools like Miami Dade (that accept 45 or more CLEP credits) to consider that offer a route like this with marine biology/zoology/animal science or behavior or anything along those lines that you know of? I'm close to the ocean as well; I live in Gulf Shores, AL. I really like the idea of skipping over almost 2 years of my schooling and still being in a good enough standing for a competitive grad school program.

I have no clue, however, I just happened to be reading their CLEP policy about an hour before I read your post. Happy to share.